The deaths of a family of six -- the youngest not even 2 -- came quickly when they were overcome with carbon monoxide poisoning after a 10,000 Watt generator, powered by a 40-pound propane tank, was hooked up in the lower level of the Fenton Township home.

They appeared to have "dropped in their spots," Genesee County Sheriff Robert Pickell said.

The 39-year-old mother, Heather Quasarano, was found dead next to the baby's crib, Pickell said. Grant, who was almost 2, was found dead in his crib. The father, 35-year-old Leonard Quasarano was found dead next to the generator. The other children -- 11-year-old Luke, 9-year-old Brenden and 7-year-old Rachel -- were found around 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 21, in different rooms in the home in various states of activity, Pickell said.

"What we're dealing with it looks like -- with the carbon monoxide that is colorless and odorless -- that they're dropping in their spot. Usually you hear about it and they're in their sleep, but obviously these people were not sleeping," Pickell said. "There was activity going on in different rooms, so you know, just to see that, it's just something...I just kept seeing it."

He also said it took about 1.5 hours to air the home before authorities could safely enter.

It's likely, based on where the bodies were found inside the home, Pickell said, that none of them knew they were in grave danger, or saw any of their family dead in the home, which is located in the 13000 block of Stony Brook Pass off Lahring Road.

Police believe the family died late Friday night or early Saturday morning, based on their clothing and a sales receipt for a generator and equipment from Home Depot that was time-stamped 10:06 p.m. Friday, Feb. 19, Pickell said.

Family members drove by the home and saw both mini-vans in the driveway on Saturday and didn't think anything of it, Pickell said. It wasn't until Sunday afternoon that Leonard Quasarano's sister and father made the discovery and called 911, Pickell said.

Even seasoned police officers laid awake Sunday night, the horrific scene burned into their memories, said Genesee County Sheriff Robert Pickell. He said he can't imagine what the family's relatives are going through.

"They saw all six family members being carried out in a bag last night," Pickell said. "How much can one family take?"

Karen Craner lives across the street, and described the family as spiritual, and said they were a good family - good parents - who were always willing to help someone in need. She said Leonard helped her a few times around the house, once when she was struggling to fix her garage door and another time when she had some water issues.

"It was a cold winter day and he rushed over in his slippers to turn the water pipe off for me," she said.

It wasn't uncommon to see Heather outside playing with the kids - they were always doing things together, Craner said.

In fact, the family spent that fateful Friday night together at church. It was family movie night at Faith Baptist Church of Linden, Pickell said. They got home to discover the wind storm apparently knocked out their power, and that's when Leonard went to Home Depot to purchase a generator.

Pickell said the family, including those that made the discovery, are very spiritual, and it's helping the surviving extended family cope with the loss.

"The family is a very spiritual family as...because of their strong faith, they're dealing with it, and of course they're hurting. You can just imagine," Pickell said. "I think it's only because of their faith that they are able to get through this."

Craner also described them as "believers," and said they were always willing to share their faith with the community.

"I believe the whole family is together, with the Lord," Craner said.

The family hopes their tragedy helps save another family, to educate others on generator safety and to urge families to make sure there is a working carbon monoxide detector in the home.

On behalf of the family, Pickell said: "It is clear, based on the family and the love that they showed, that this tragedy is hoped to be used to glorify the lord, as well as educate the public, so this never happens again."

Autopsies on all six victims are being done to confirm the cause and manner of their deaths, Pickell said. The Sheriff's liaison to the family is also assisting in the preparation of six funerals and six burial sites.

Sharp Funeral Homes is handling the arrangements, which were not finalized as of Monday afternoon.